Newsletter

Business in brief

A private survey shows U.S. companies increased hiring at a healthy pace last month, suggesting the jobs market is recovering from a brutal winter.

Payroll processer ADP says private employers added 191,000 jobs in March. Hiring was healthy across most industries and businesses of different sizes.

The numbers suggest the government’s jobs report for March, to be released Friday, will show stronger hiring.

The ADP numbers cover only private businesses and often diverge from the government’s more comprehensive report.

WASHINGTON

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first tablet for gradually reducing hay fever allergy symptoms, an alternative to uncomfortable allergy-desensitizing shots.

Oralair, a tablet that dissolves under the tongue, is approved for patients aged 10 through 65. It’s to be taken daily starting four months before grass pollen season to reduce allergic reactions to five grass types.

In patient testing, it reduced symptoms and need for medications by up to 30 percent, compared with dummy pills.

Oralair is made by France’s Stallergenes SA.

DETROIT

Chrysler is recalling nearly 870,000 SUVs because corrosion may make the vehicles’ brakes harder to use.

Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs from the 2011 through 2014 model years are involved.

Chrysler says crimp joints in the brake boosters can corrode if they’re exposed to water. If the water freezes, the boosters won’t aid braking as they usually do.

The company knows of one accident, but no injuries, due to the defect.

The agriculture products company earned $1.67 billion, or $3.15 per share, 7 cents better than what analysts polled by FactSet had projected. A year ago, the company earned $1.48 billion, or $2.73 per share.

The performance was particularly strong, given the slow start to a quarter in which winter storms delayed shipments.

NEW YORK

Amazon wants to make its way into living rooms with Amazon Fire TV, a new set-top box that allows streaming of online video, music and other content to televisions.

The company says the $99 device has better speed, performance and search functions than other options such as Apple TV and Google Chromecast. But Amazon is coming late to the game, and it remains to be seen whether the company is offering enough of an advantage to lure customers away from their current streaming methods.

The device, about the size of a CD case, runs Google’s Android operating system and offers Netflix, Hulu and other streaming channels in addition to Amazon Prime instant video.